Now that Amazon Prime has the third season of Bosch, I am having trouble reading the series without thinking of Titus Weaver's voice and persona. WhicNow that Amazon Prime has the third season of Bosch, I am having trouble reading the series without thinking of Titus Weaver's voice and persona. Which is all in all a good thing. This is a solid installment in a solid series, although I did find that reading it late at night led to being up even later. Bosch is working in a smaller police department after having gotten into a little bit too much trouble at LAPD, and is at once the hero and the bad guy in this volume....more

I like the interplay between the two protagonists in this series, one being a cop and one being a reporter. The writing is solid and the plot, if youI like the interplay between the two protagonists in this series, one being a cop and one being a reporter. The writing is solid and the plot, if you can suspend belief about how they come to be involved in the same case, is good. Jane witnesses a hit and run, and gets a very good look at the driver, which makes her both a reporter and a witness. ...more

I have been a fabric person all my life. In fact, when I was in a fabric store buying this book, I was unable to keep my attention on the task at handI have been a fabric person all my life. In fact, when I was in a fabric store buying this book, I was unable to keep my attention on the task at hand, which was to buy this book. The fabric was so distracting. That said, I really knew very little about the history of printed fabric used to package goods before reading this wonderful book, which is a compendium of feed sacks as a reflection the culture of rural America in the first half of the 20th century. The circumstances that farmers lived along with the sheer volume of goods that they brought onto large farms was something I knew little about, and I was surprised that a book on fabric would teach me all of that, but it did. The book has dozens of clippings from newspapers, industry magazines (one hilariously entitled Bagology), advertisements, and clothing patterns (yes, there were patterns with layouts that echoed feed sack sizes), which are fascinating windows into another time.

The fabric associated with feed sacks were unbelievably varied. The fact that it took about four 100 lb. feed sacks to make a dress, and there were hundreds of patterns makes getting 4 the same kind of a feat. The book is full of photos throughout, and the last section has hundreds of pictures of different fabrics. So this is a coffee table book for those amongst us who cannot resist fabric. Do not miss this!...more

I really like the main character, Ruth, and the police officer/father of her daughter. Their relationship is complicated and unusually nuanced for theI really like the main character, Ruth, and the police officer/father of her daughter. Their relationship is complicated and unusually nuanced for the genre. The book is about the disappearance of several women, starting with a homeless woman, but then progressing to a mother of 4 without any plausible reason at all to have gone missing, and getting more worrisome from there. It is well paced and I look forward to another in the series....more

Flavia de Luce is a very likable character, but the series is not (in my opinion) moving forward in a way that I find enjoyable. What changes is not wFlavia de Luce is a very likable character, but the series is not (in my opinion) moving forward in a way that I find enjoyable. What changes is not what I would like to see change (Flavia could be fun to watch through adolescence, but so far that has not materialized). But solid installment, mush like the previous books in the series. ...more

I am not exactly sure how I feel about the main characters in this book, which is the first I have read by the author, although there are other booksI am not exactly sure how I feel about the main characters in this book, which is the first I have read by the author, although there are other books in the series. Murder mysteries by their nature are not upbeat and a little dark, but this one steps closer to the shadows than most and I am not sure I entirely like that. Jury is out....more

I am not a huge fan of the short story, but this collection is really more the length of a novella. The stories are all centered on University profess

I am not a huge fan of the short story, but this collection is really more the length of a novella. The stories are all centered on University professors, college campuses, and those who write, which is a nice theme. The crises that occur that form the center of each story are varied, and the solutions fit them nicely too. I especially liked the story about a professor who has had trouble coping with a learning differences student and is on an Italian vacation with his brother to try to escape the trauma and shame. He has a complicated relationship with his sibling, who has really done him wrong on a number of levels, but has somehow come out on the short end of the stick of life despite that (or maybe because of it). In any case, there are some wise observations on life to be found here, and the short format allows for reading in a distracted environment as well. ...more

Tony Hillerman's daughter has done a good job of continuing her father's series and also making it her own. I liked this installment, and have to go bTony Hillerman's daughter has done a good job of continuing her father's series and also making it her own. I liked this installment, and have to go back and read the one that I missed. ...more

My spouse found this to be too repetitive of Precious and Grace from previous books, but I found it to be exactly the same. Which means that we are laMy spouse found this to be too repetitive of Precious and Grace from previous books, but I found it to be exactly the same. Which means that we are largely saying the same thing except that he is tired of it and I am not. So if you have loved the Lady's No. 1 Detective Agency because of the common sense approach to both problems and life, then you will not be disappointed by this installment....more

This was recommended to me by someone who is involved in a library book group, and overall I enjoyed it. The problem is that I could not for the lifeThis was recommended to me by someone who is involved in a library book group, and overall I enjoyed it. The problem is that I could not for the life of me understand why a woman who felt wronged by a bride would agree to spend a weekend with her at a hen party. If you can get past that, this is a good British style thriller....more

My sister-in-law recommended this book to me, because it was recommended to her by Anna Quinlan, who she had gone to see speak. She said this book had

My sister-in-law recommended this book to me, because it was recommended to her by Anna Quinlan, who she had gone to see speak. She said this book had a great deal of influence on her as a writer.

Here is the story. Stoner is a man who grew up on a farm to uneducated parents in Missouri, who is literally the first generation of his family to go to college. His parents hire a farm hand in order to run the farm in his absence, so while they are not educated, they put some value on education. They do, however, expect him to return to the farm, and early in his college career he realizes that is not going to happen. He does not enlist in the military in WWI and instead pursues a PhD and becomes a professor. After that he has an unexceptional life. He marries a woman he doesn't have a friendship with, and so there is no real love. They have a daughter that he adores, but there is a bad outcome there as well. His home life is unsatisfactory, and his academic life is equally lackluster. the strength of the story is not in it's broad scope but in its attention to the details of a life that you might otherwise have overlooked....more

I like JA Jance, and regularly read all her characters series. This is an Ali Reynolds book, and while I really did not like some key elements of theI like JA Jance, and regularly read all her characters series. This is an Ali Reynolds book, and while I really did not like some key elements of the plot, overall I enjoyed the book. There is an AI component that is both scary and malevolent, and while that may be very realistic, it is not something that I want regularly in my murder mysteries....more

Joe Pickett is a great wild west character who does his own thing his own way, with the aid of his off-the-grid friend Nate, and this book is no diverJoe Pickett is a great wild west character who does his own thing his own way, with the aid of his off-the-grid friend Nate, and this book is no diversion from that formula, with Joe's family threatened, his daughters less than cooperative, old grudges coming back to bite him, and a bumpy ride to the end. A good installment in the series....more

This series has become less about the tension between the lawyer and the priest and more about Native Americans and the challenges faced. There was alThis series has become less about the tension between the lawyer and the priest and more about Native Americans and the challenges faced. There was always the perspective of reservation life, ongoing discrimination, diminished options but it has become more textured over time. In this one the issue of adoption and Native Americans is handled, but in a very different way than you might expect. Very good....more

Inspector Rebus has been a great series all along, and now that he is retired he is freed from the minimal constraints that he felt as a younger officInspector Rebus has been a great series all along, and now that he is retired he is freed from the minimal constraints that he felt as a younger officer. In this one he is pursuing a cold case, one that he didn't cl0se in his professional career, and it quickly overlaps with a current case, bringing him into contact with Fox. All I can say is that I hope the independent Fox series continues, because I like that as well, but this is a very good installment in a long running series....more

This is an investigation into two converging events that can together to produce the opiate problem that is rampant throughout white middle class AmerThis is an investigation into two converging events that can together to produce the opiate problem that is rampant throughout white middle class America. The first is an extraordinary change in illegal drug delivery of heroin. A community in Mexico with access to black tar heroin. They developed a network of men from the community who transported it to the San Fernando Valley, sold it to users in a concierge fashion, and returned home. The drug dealers are not interested in immigrating to the United State. They only want to make money and go home. They took the difficulty out of buying heroin by bringing it to the client. No fear, no wrong side of the tracks. When they got caught, they had very little heroin in their possession and were usually deported home. They also had no interest in cornering the market, so when competition rolled into town, they let them. they spread out from Southern California, but to medium size cities without organized crime involved int he drug trade. The other thing that happened was a massive increase in prescription opiates for chronic pain, which has led to widespread opiate addiction. It is an interesting saga, told a little on the long side....more

While I have been reading this series for several years, I never went back and read the beginning books--which are highly consistent with the series aWhile I have been reading this series for several years, I never went back and read the beginning books--which are highly consistent with the series as a whole, and yet not the same--I do like a character who changes over time, and Reacher is a good...more

This is a very solid entry into the Maisie Dobbs oeuvre (although you might find a few things shocking if you read the series slightly out of order).This is a very solid entry into the Maisie Dobbs oeuvre (although you might find a few things shocking if you read the series slightly out of order). In this one Maisie goes undercover to Germany in the late 19530's when we know tensions are building and what will ultimately happen, so higher level of adversity, more thriller than cozy than some in the series but really very good. If you haven't read, start at the beginning of the series and read in order--great binge series....more

I really like where the Decker and Rina books have gone over the past several volumes, with Decker in a small town, getting help in unexpected placesI really like where the Decker and Rina books have gone over the past several volumes, with Decker in a small town, getting help in unexpected places and having fewer resources than he did as an LAPD cop. His movement to be nearer his kids and move towards retirement is very much in keeping with a real character over time, and the series is still very enjoyable....more

This is a highly respected novel in what has come to be known as the Neapolitan Quartet. Everyone I know who has read it loved it, and I was given theThis is a highly respected novel in what has come to be known as the Neapolitan Quartet. Everyone I know who has read it loved it, and I was given the whole set of them while I was in the throws of pretty intense chemotherapy, and just was not able to get into it. I thought at first that it was me, that my frame of mind was just not right, It took me several starts to read this first book and as I reflect on it, I think that it is because it is just a very messy book. The lives of the young women involved are very complicated and it is a variety of things that make that true. The first is the oppressive patriarchal community that they grow up in. It is almost suffocating to read about, and yet that is a reality for many girls around the globe, even in the first world, and truly in the third world. The second is that it is very easy to be overwhelmed with the privilege that one has in growing up in the late 20th century. The opportunities are not what they could be, but they are far superior to what they have historically been. Then there is the struggle to find one's voice and purpose. I finished this book while on an idyllic walk through the Cotswolds and have been thinking about it ever since. It is that kind of book....more

this murder mystery series is very solid, with both husband and wife involved in separate cases with a shared home life that keeps the whole thing frethis murder mystery series is very solid, with both husband and wife involved in separate cases with a shared home life that keeps the whole thing fresh....more

I do love both the series written by this mother and son writing team, both of which are set in post WWI England. This is an Ian Rutledge book about aI do love both the series written by this mother and son writing team, both of which are set in post WWI England. This is an Ian Rutledge book about a group of men who had a chance meeting during the war, who are now being targeted and murdered. There is the usual British lack of over reaction to these sorts of events. I would have taken to hiding until the whole thing was over, but they don't even have protection. In any case, a very solid installment in an excellent murder mystery series....more

Maisie Dobbs is an enjoyable read, and this installment is no exception. She is on the verge of making big changes in this one, for reasons that are nMaisie Dobbs is an enjoyable read, and this installment is no exception. She is on the verge of making big changes in this one, for reasons that are not all that clear, so not my absolute favorite of the series, but this is a series that should definitely be read in order....more

There is an awful lot to be learned from reading this book, and while I know the author, and would have read it in any case, I am highly recommendingThere is an awful lot to be learned from reading this book, and while I know the author, and would have read it in any case, I am highly recommending it to people who have not read it.

The thing that I like most about it is something that is also true of the author in general. It is optimistic. The evidence for climate change is overwhelming and long standing. It goes back literally a century or more. So he doesn't engage with those who want to go down that rabbit hole. It is all about how to address where we are and how to move forward, and he does this from the viewpoint of a planetary scientist.

I liked the perspective of climate on planets over the time that we can study them, and the valuable information that we have from space exploration. He and I have literally grown up in the age of being able to get out into the universe to explore it and not just sit here at home. So that was a cool perspective, full of knowledge that I did not possess.

So take some time and learn a bit about what the future might hold for our beautiful home planet....more

Eddie is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and pays a high price for that. This is the most political book in the series that I have read, where tEddie is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and pays a high price for that. This is the most political book in the series that I have read, where there are people making choices that are morally ambiguous, believing that they have the greater good in mind. The foreshadowing of what is about to happen with Europe under Hitler is in the background...more

Maisie goes undercover at her old university, working in close conjunction with the police. The series moves forward at an almost glacial pace, but inMaisie goes undercover at her old university, working in close conjunction with the police. The series moves forward at an almost glacial pace, but in fact, things do change. Maisie is a character who has complexity and so the pace is not an issue. Recommended....more

This is a great young adult book about growing up poor and black and smart. I think that there is a lot to learn from the main character, Jade, aboutThis is a great young adult book about growing up poor and black and smart. I think that there is a lot to learn from the main character, Jade, about why African Americans get mad and stay mad. Jade is a girl who has a whole lot going for her. She is smart and she knows that in order to escape poverty she needs to escape where she lives. Not just the neighborhood but the whole place. She needs to create the new her, and she can't do it in too familiar an environment. That has the downstream problem of stripping her of her support system, and I think that is underappreciated. Then there is the burden of being an underrepresented minority when you do get out of your neighborhood. Jade gets a scholarship to a good private school, which is a huge plus for her, but the downside is that they, not her, decide what is the best "opportunity" for her to receive, and it is not always a great fit for her. Which leaves her angry and those who are affording her these advantages interpret that as being ungrateful. She has a tough line to walk and the book really nicely points that out. Highly recommended....more

I liked this a lot more than my spouse did. It is a murder mystery by strict definitions, with a senseless killing to open up the book. But what happeI liked this a lot more than my spouse did. It is a murder mystery by strict definitions, with a senseless killing to open up the book. But what happens next is outside of what you usually see with the genre. The characters involved are then followed for 20 years, with all sorts of complications arising, and then at the end, the inspector who investigated the original murder steps back into the picture and ties together some of the loose ends and reveals the likely killer....more